Death investigation leads officers to major drug operation

A death investigation led Washington County, Tennessee sheriff's deputies to a large mushroom growing operation on Monday.

Deputies were called to a home on Rambling Road early Sunday morning.

That's where they found the body of a 24-year-old woman lying in the front yard. Detectives believe she died from a gunshot wound. Foul play has not been ruled out in her death.

Officers say 700 mushrooms valued at up to $50,000 were found inside the home behind a locked door. "Once inside the trailer there was a room that was locked and [the resident] wouldn't let us go in. So we contacted the TBI to assist on both investigations. We got a search warrant and went back. We went into the room and this is what we found," said Washington County sheriff Ed Graybeal, indicating photos of the mushrooms. "He had a big operation going and definitely knew what he was doing to grow mushrooms."

25-year-old Kelvin Conerway is charged with manufacturing drugs and having a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held on a $40,000 bond.